Page 60 of Blood and War
She sat there, panting on the ground as Kellan made his way toward her, helping her sit up.
“Are you alright?” He steadied her as she caught her breath. His hand warm on her back as she leaned into his firm grip.
“Yes, thank you.” She coughed, finally able to find her voice once more.
“So help me God, Sam!” Jace had the man by his shirt as he shook him. “Are you insane? What is wrong with you!” He dropped the twin to the ground.
Demitria looked up at Kellan as the tip of a blade grazed his neck. She felt her breath hitch at the movement, but his face remained neutral. Unbothered as he didn’t dare break his gaze from her. It took every ounce of strength to pull her eyes away.
Will’s fingers curled around the knife’s handle.
“Back off, human.” Gabriel said, his voice calm. Smooth, as he stalked behind Will before coming to a stop behind him. Kane and Eire had arrows notched in their bows, the glint of Gabriel’s scythe shone in the sun as the Horsemen pulled their weapons on the brothers.
“One more step and it’s the last thing you will ever do.”
Will hesitantly took a step back, helping his brother to his feet after sheathing his own blade.
“Remind me again why I should be saving your people.” Amusement danced across Kellan’s face as he extended his hand, pulling her back to her feet. She shouldn’t have found it funny, but the laughter came easily, slipping free from her lips.
His hand lingered in hers for a moment longer than it should have, neither one quite willing to part first. With a sigh, Demitria finally dropped his, taking a step away from the warmth of the Horseman.
As quickly as it started, the fight was over. Satisfied, the other Horsemen sheathed their own weapons, moving away as the twins scrambled back to the mouth of the cavern.
“You’re alive?” Cory was the first to step forward, eyes wide. Demitria wrapped her arms around him in a friendly embrace. “I’m glad he found you.” He whispered, nodding toward Kellan still standing in close proximity.
“I sure hope so.” The playful tone returned to her voice. It came easy with him. Cory came to the community shortly after Jace had taken over, and had been a constant, brotherly figure in her life since. One she had surely missed. “And so am I.” Her voice lowered, feeling that pull between her and Kellan standing behind her. Demitria took a step back, moving to greet Evan. He gave her a sharp nod.
“Good to see you.”
“Glad to see you made it out.” It was a stretch of the truth. A half-truth, really. But she extended it all the same. “We should get inside. We need to talk.” Demitria moved past him and entered the cavern, Kellan on her heels.
Jace motioned the others inside. The other Horsemen hesitated for a moment, before entering between the gap of the stalagmites.
Demitria took in the darkness of the cavern. The musty smell that wafted through her senses. Little belongings littered the floor, but she could tell they’d been here for a few days at least. Toward the entrance, the soft glow of a fire illuminated the front of the room as flames danced along the walls. She shuddered at the sight as she drifted toward the cavern with Reim, and she pushed further away from the flames that haunted her. She could hear the footsteps as the others followed behind, but her mind was reeling.
She should be happy that some of them had made it out. Should be absolutely rejoicing that Jace and Cory and Evan were alive, but couldn’t shake the fact that this was it. That the Horsemen would leave her here, and stop whatever—whoever this Dark King was.
Demitria wanted her answers. She needed to find out why they all wanted her. She was afraid that when they left out of that cave for good, she would never know.
And shewantedto know why these beings sought her out. Why they wanted her dead. Why she felt this…pull between the male she had no business knowing, let alone having these thoughts about. He was a Horseman of the fucking Apocalypse, and she was supposed to hate everything about him. Like the way he carried himself. So confident and sure of himself. Or the soft, velvety laugh that rumbled through her. Or?—
Demitria ran a hand across her face and through her hair, turning on her people she looked from Jace to the others around her.
“There’s…something going on that I think you should know.” She didn’t know if she was ready to tell themwhySolis had fallen, but they deserved to know. Sam had tried to kill her for it minutes ago, and he didn’t even know why. “Everything that happened, has been because of me.” Her gaze drifted toward Kellan. He was at the back of the group now, but his eyes neverleft hers. Behind him, his siblings hadn’t moved past the mouth of the cave. Whether they were listening or talking amongst themselves, she didn’t know.
“We know they came looking for you.” Sam glared, rubbing the side of his neck. The puncture in his throat had stopped bleeding but the faint outline of a bruise now graced his throat.
She didn’t bother answering him. “There’s a price on my head, and those creatures came looking for me. I don’t know why. I don’t know what they want with me, and I’m sorry for everything it caused.” Demitria swore she wouldn’t cry again, but she could feel the tears lining her eyes, desperately trying to break free.
“Whatever it is, we’ll fix it. We’ll do what it takes.” Jace took a step forward, reaching a hand toward her.
“You saying you’re special or something?” Will scoffed. “Like they want you or something? Please, whatever it is can’t be that bad.” It took every effort not to shout back a retort. Not that bad? People haddiedbecause of it. They’d lost their homes. Everything. She settled on rolling her eyes, instead, unwilling to cause a rift with her own people.
“This is a bigger threat than you can even fathom, boy. I suggest you shut your mouth and let the adults speak.” Kellan glowered. “The destruction that you have witnessed is not something any of us should take lightly. The fact that it is happening this fast is… alarming.” He added.
“What do you mean? Is something coming?” Cory asked, turning from the conversation at hand, and back toward the other Horsemen, as if drawn to whatever it was they were saying. Demitria could see them talking quietly, but couldn’t make out what it was.
“This could mean the end of life as we know it.” Demitria’s voice hardened. “Something big is coming. Probably alreadyhere, and he wants nothing more than the destruction of every civilization here, and won’t stop until we’re all enslaved.”
